Braves make a trade for Rafael Montero

The Braves bullpen is in utter despair, already costing the clubs several games, and this is the perfect example of the type of moves they’re going to have to attempt to fix it.

A few years ago, Rafael Montero was a stud of the Astros, posting a 2.37 ERA over 71 appearances in 2022 and helping them to a World Series. It was a season he parlayed to an into a three-year, $34.5 million contract, one that he hasn’t even come close to living up to.

Montero posted a 5.08 ERA in 2023 and a 4.70 ERA last year. So far this season, he’s recorded a 4.50 ERA through three appearances, but he has struck out 11.3 batters per nine innings and his 2.07 FIP suggests he’s been the subject of some poor luck.

The Astros are sending a significant amount of cash in the deal to cover some of Rafael Montero’s salary. He’ll likely join the Braves in the coming days, but this feels like a case of too little too late.

The Braves watched A.J. Minter leave in free agency while Joe Jimenez went down with a season ending injury, and they decided not to do anything about it during the offseason. That was a mistake, and now Alex Anthopoulos is scrambling trying to right his wrongs.